THE RESPONSE OF NAIVE BREEDING ADULTS OF THE SPOTTED SALAMANDER TO FISH

Several recent investigations have shown that some species of salamand ers are capable of perceiving the presence of fish in breeding ponds t hrough olfaction. It has been suggested that breeding adult salamander s may avoid depositing eggs in pools containing fish. We examined the hypothesis that breeding salamanders avoid fish ponds through olfactor y cues in two field tests. In the first, naive spotted salamanders (Am bystoma maculatum) restrained within screened enclosures were submerge d in either fish or fishless ponds. The number of eggs laid within eac h enclosure was counted at the conclusion of breeding. There was no di fference in the number of eggs eggs within and among four fishless and three fish ponds. In the fourth fish pond the fish harassed the salam anders and completely inhibited reproduction. We repeated the experime nt using double screened enclosures in which the salamanders were free from direct fish attack but were stili exposed to fish scent. There w as no difference in egg production. The second test repeated the desig n of the first but provided the salamanders with the choice of remaini ng in the double screened enclosures or exiting the pond. The test ani mals from both the fish and fishless ponds responded similarly in thei r breeding activities. We conclude that naive spotted salamanders do n ot avoid fish ponds based solely on olfactory cues.